Machine for forming pulverized material into briquets.



No. 66!,238. Patented Nov. 6, 1900. T. A. EDISON.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PULVERIZED MATERIAL INTO BRIOUETS.

' (Application filed May 23, 1898.)

5 Shants$heet 1.

(No Model.)

]I' van far No. 66l,23$. Patented Nov. 6, I900. T. A. EDISON.

MABHMME FOR FORMING PULVE-RIZED MATERIAL INTO BRIDUETS.

(Application filed May 23, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Shot 2.

(N0 Model.)

THE nonms PETERS co, mom-umo, msmmrun. u. c.

No. 66l,238. Patented Nov. 6, 1900. T. A. EDISON.

WHHZHiNE FOR FORMING PULVERIZED MATERIAL INTO BRIQUETS.

(Application filed 1898.)

(Ho Madal.)

5 Sheets-Shef a.

No. 6fiI,238. Patented Nov. I900. T; A. EDISON.

IIIIMJI'IINE FOR FORMING PULVEBIZED MATERIAL INTO BRIIIUE'I'S.

(Application filed May 23, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

THE NoRms PETERS co. PnoTo-uma. WASHINGTON. n c.

No. 66I,238. Patented Nov. 6, I900. T. A. EDISON.

IIIABHINE FOR FORMING PULVERIZED MATERIAL INTO BI'HUUETS.

(Application filed May 23', 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

THE Norms pnzas cu. mm'c-uwa, WASMINGTCN, n. c

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THOMAS A. EDISON, OF LLEWELLYN PARK, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PULVERIZED MATE-RiAL INTO BRIQUETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,238, dated November6, 1900.

Application filed May 23. 1898.

T0 (ti/Z whom it Wmy concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Llewellyn Park, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machinesfor Forming Pulverized Material into Briquets, (Case No. 990,) of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for forming finely-pulverized materialinto compact solid bricks or briquets; and the device is designed forparticular use in the bricking of finely-pulverized concentrated ironore and finelypulverized coal. The invention is, however, capable of usein the formation of ordinary lmilding-bricks and, with the necessarymodifications to fit it to the particular use, may also be employed inthe formation of lozenges and similar articles.

In the construction of a machine suitable for the bricking of pulverizedconcentrated iron ore and pulverized coal it is desirable that thematerial should be first subjected to a moderately heavy pressure, so asto place the briqnets in the desired approximate form, and thatsubsequently the requisite pressure to secure the desired density shouldbe applied to the briquets, this subsequent pressure being obtainedeither by a single operation or by a plurality of operations. In thepresent application I shall describe as the preferred embodiment of myinvention a machine adapted to subject the material to three successivecompressive effects. In order that the briquets may be subjected to aplurality of compressive operations, it is desirable that the operativeparts should be so arranged that .the briquets during their formationshould be simultaneously subjected to different compressive effects andthat the same briquet should be successively subjected to the differentcompressive effects. This result may be accomplished by providing arotatable mold-carrier, with which cooperate the desired number ofradially-arranged plungers, three of said plungers being preferablyused. The first plunger will force the material into one of the moldsand subject it to the preliminary compression. The second plunger willact upon the primarily-formed briquet and subject it to a heavypressure, so as to Serial No. 681,475. (No model.)

further compress it, and the third plunger will subject the briquet toan enormous final compression in order that the desired density andfirmness thereof may be obtained. A single briquet thus considered will,it will be noted, be subjected successively to the different compressingoperations. When, how: ever, the first briquet is being subjected to theeffect of the second plunger, the first plunger is subjecting asuccessive briquet to its preliminary or primary compression, and Whenthe last-mentioned briquet is subjected to the effect of the secondplunger the first plunger will subject a successive briquet to apreliminary compression and the third plunger will subject the firstbriqnet to its final compression. It will therefore be seen thatdifferent briquets are subjected simultaneously to different compressiveoperations. In this way the brickingnnachine embodying my presentimprovements will enable successive compressive operations to be appliedin the process of formation of briquets, yet the completed briquets willbe ejected from the device after each compressive operation, provided,of course, the compressive operations take place simultaneously, as ispreferable.

In the bricking of concentrated iron ore and -of' finely-pulverized coalwith which a suitable binding agent has been admixed it is preferable tokeep those parts of the apparatus with which the material may come intocontact in a sufficiently-heated state as to prevent sticking, and mypresent invention contemplates means by which this may be done. When,however, the device is employedfor the brie-king of materials notrequiring a binding agent, the special means for heating the molds andplungers will not be necessary.

In the bricking of concentrated iron ore on a commercial scale I havefound that a desirable arrangement is to employ a series ofbricking-machines to which the material will be fed automatically, so asto obviate the expense of hand-feeding, and devices by which this endmay be accomplished are also included in my present invention.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine for the purpose whichWlll be simple in construction and wherein during the process offormation different briquets will be simultaneously subjected todifferent compressive effects and the same briquet will be successivelysubjected to different compressive effects, whereby a completed briquetwill be ejected from the machine at each compressive operation.

Afurtherobjectis to providesuitablesafety devices which will allow forthe requisite pressure to be applied to the briquets, but which willprevent the breakage of any of the parts in case of unusual hardness ofmaterial or in the event of an unusually large amount of material beingintroduced within the first mold.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which theseveral molds may be kept in a sufficiently-heated state as to preventthe sticking of the material within the molds in the bricking ofpulverized material in which a binding agent is used, as concentratediron ore and coal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofautomatic feeding apparatus by which the material will be automaticallyfed to the machine where it may be operated upon by the primary plunger,such automatic feeding apparatus being especially intended for use inconnection with a series of bricking-machines arranged side by side andby which very large amounts of material can be economically disposed of.

Broadly stated, my invention in its preferred form comprises a rotatablemold-carrier in which .are placed a series of molds, each mold beingprovided with a movable bottom. Cooperating with this mold-carrier is aplurality of plungers, which are radially disposed with reference to thecarrier, and three of which are preferably used. These plungers will beall preferably operated simultaneously from a main driven shaft bysuitably-arranged levers, by means of which the different compressiveeffects will be obtained. Since, in order to obtain a greatercompressive effect on the final plunger than on the primary orintermediate plungers, it is desirable that the extent of movement ofsaid plungers should be substantially inversely proportional to thecompressive effect thereof, the mold-bottoms are arranged to traveloutward, whereby after the briquet has been subjected to the primarycompression it will by reason of the mold-bottom be moved outward, sothat its surface will be flush with the periphery of the mold-carrierand it be immediately operated upon by the intermediate plunger. As thebriquet after this intermediate compression advances toward the finalplunger it will be further advanced within the mold until its surface isagain flush with the periphery of the mold-carrier and it will then beoperated upon by said final plunger. In this way I reduce lost motion inthe device, the briquets being operated upon by the intermediate andfinal plungers almost from the very commencement of movement of saidplungers. The several levers by which the plungers are operated will beeach provided with sections movable with respect to the others, whichsections will be normally maintained in engagement by spring-pressure,but will allow for separation in operation, thereby acting as aneffective safety device to prevent breakage in the event ofexceptionally hard material being encountered or in case an unusuallylarge amount of material has been forced by the primary plunger into oneof the molds. The mold-carrier will be heated by steam or hot water andthe intermediate and final plungers will also be preferably heated inthe same Way when the apparatus is used in the bricking of concentratediron ore or coal to which has been added a suitable binding material inorder to prevent sticking of the briquets in the mold. For the brickingof iron ore or coal on a large scale a plurality of my improved brickingmachines will be mounted side by side and a single automatic feed willbe provided for keeping all said machines supplied with the properamount of material.

In order that my invention may be better understood, attention isdirected to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of thebricking-machine, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my presentinvention; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof with the driving-wheel removed; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section, partly in elevation; Fig. 4, asection through the feed-trough, illustrating the preferred form ofautomatic feeding mechanism; Fig. 5, a cross-section through themold-carrier; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section through the moldcarrier andplungers; Fig. 7, a plan viewillustrating the preferable form ofsafety-catch between the main driving-wheel and the main shaft; Fig. 8,a side view of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, an enlarged detail view illustrating theadjusting device for the drunken-worm shaft; Fig. 10, an enlargedsection through the feed-trough, and Fig. 11 a plan view illustrating aseries of bricking-machines with a single automatic feed therefor.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by thesame characters of reference.

The main frame of theimproved brickingmachine comprises, essentially,two side frames 1 1, cast to suitable base or foundation portions 2. Theside frames 1 1 extend essentially parallel to each other. 3 is the maindriven shaft, mounted in suitable bearing-boxes 4 in the framework ofthe machine and carrying a suitable pulley-wheel 5, by which said shaftmay be driven. The pulley 5 is connected to the shaft 3 through asafetycatch. (Illustrated more particularlyin Figs. 7 and 8.) Keyed tothe main driving-shaft adjacent to the driving-pulley 5 is a disk 6,carrying a rim 7. Bolted to the rim 7 is a block 8, having a cutawayportion 9 therein.

Working within this cut-away portion 9 is the lower end of alink 10,which is connected to a heavy bolt 11, extending through one of thespokes of the driving-wheel 5. The lower end of said link engages ashear-bolt 12, made preferably of brass and of such a diameter that inthe event of dangerously-heavy strains being imposed upon it the saidbolt will be sheared off, so as to allow the pulley 5 toturn loosely onthe shaft 3 and bringing the machine to rest. In order to preventbacklashing of the machine from forcing the disk 6 suddenly aheadagainst the inertia of the fly-wheel, and thereby shearing the bolt 12,I provide a Wedgeblock 13, carried on the bolt 14: and adjustablethereby, and which engages a collar15 on the link 10.

The frames 1 1 are formed near their rear ends with bearing-boxes 16,having caps 17 for the mold-carrier shaft 18. The saidshaft in theoperation of bricking pulverized iron concentrates is subjected to anenormous pressure, and it should therefore be made relatively heavy. Themold-carrier shaft 18 is driven with an intermittent step-by-stepmovement from the main shaft 3, preferably by a drunken worm 19 engaginga wormgear 20, keyed to the shaft 18. (See Fig. 9.) The drunken worm 19is keyed to a shaft 21,\vhich is driven from the shaft 3 through thebevelgears 22. The bevel-gears 22 and also the worm-gear 20 and thedrunken Worm 19 are all incased and run in oil, so as to be keptproperly lubricated and also to exclude dust, which is very prevalentespecially in mills in which the bricking of iron ore is carried on. Theshaft 21extends at an angle to the horizontal, and by reason of thisfact I am enabled to secure a very delicate adjustment of the drunkenworm 19 relatively to the worm-gear 20, this adjustment being moreclearly illustrated in Fig. 9.

c3 23 are plates secured to the side frame and carrying bearing-boxes 24at their lower ends, in which bearing-boxes the shaft 21 works.

25 25 are bushings surrounding the shaft 21 within the bearing-boxes 24and engaging on both sides of the worm 19. The bushings 25 are eachprovided with lugs 26, through which pass adjustingscrews 27,permanently screwed into the bearing-boxes and having adjusting-nutsthereon. It will be observed that by operating the adjusting -nuts thebushings may be moved laterally, and a very delicate vertical adjustmentof the worm will thus be secured. The drunken worm 19 is so arrangedthat during one-third of each rotation the wornrgear 20 will be advancedone tooth,while during the remaining two'thirds of each rotation thesaid worm-gear Will be maintained stationary. Carried upon the shaft 18is a cam 28, which is firmly bolted to one of the side frames by bolts29, so that said cam will be held against rotation. The bolts 29 aretapped into heavy ears 30, (see Fig. 6,) cast to the cam. The cam 28 fora small part of its circumference is concentric, this concentricity inFig. 6 extending approxi mately from the point X to the point Y. Fromthe point Y to the point. Z the cam is slightly eccentric, its diameterin practice in creasing only about one-fourth of an inch. From the pointZ the diameter of the cam rapidly increases until when almost in adiagonal line with the point X its diameter is sufficient to have forcedthe mold-bottoms to their maximum extent, as will be explained.

Mounted upon the shaft 18 at the side of the cam 28 and rigidly keyed tosaid shaft is a mold-carrier 31, comprising, essentially, a sleeve 32, adisk and a concentric head 34. This mold-carrier may be cast in onepiece. Carried on.the inside of the moldcarrier 31 is an annular steelring 35, bolted in place, and on the outside of said moldcarrier isbolted a retainingring 36, both of said rings being preferably made ofsteel. Carried in the face of the mold-carrier 31 are a series of molds37, which are held in place by screws 38. Each of said molds is providedwith a movable bottom 39, the inner surface of which slides upon thestationary cam 28. Each bottom 39 is provided with a longitudinal slot40 therein, with which engages the end of a bolt 11, passing through thering 36 and by which the mold-bottoms will be prevented from fallingout.

\Vllen the apparatus is used for the bricking of pulverized-ironconcentrates or pulverized coal with which a binding material has beenmixed, it is desirable that the molds should be kept sufficiently warmto prevent the briquets from sticking therein, and this result maybeaccomplished in part by mak' ing the cam 28 hollow at 42, steam beingsupplied thereto through the pipes 13 43. Cooperating with theWold-carrier in this the preferred embodiment of my invention are threeplungers 4a, 4.5, and 46, respectively, the first of these plungersbeing used for the purpose of forcing a supply of material into one ofthe molds and giving thereto a primary compression, the second plungerbeing employed for the purpose of giving to the material thus formed aheavy intermediate pressure, and the third plunger being used forapplying an enormous pressure to the briquet, whereby it will be giventhe desired solidity and fi rmness. The plunger 44 works in suitablebearings 47, carried by bridge-pieces 48, extending across the frames 11 at the rear portions thereof. Rigidly secured to the plunger 4a aretrunnions 49, connected by links at each side to the upper ends of alever 51, said lever being mounted on a shaft 52, carried in brackets 53cast with the side frames. Rigidly secured to the shaft 52 is a heavyarm 54, the upper end of which is in engagement with the lever 51 atabout its center. Extending from the said upper end of the arm 54. is arod 55, which passes through the lever 51, being provided on its outerend with adjustingnuts 56, and the lower end of said rod being be madeintegral, if desired.

supported by a triangular-shaped bracket connected to the lever 51, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. V

57 is a heavy spiral spring mounted between the lever 51 and a heavywasher 58, as shown more particularlyin Fig. 3. By means of the nuts 56the tension of the spring 57 may be adjusted, as will be understood.Keyed to the shaft 52 on the outside of one of the brackets 53 is acrank 59.

62 is a long lever mounted on a heavy shaft 63 at one side of themachine and extending almost the entire length of the side frames. Thislever is made as light as possible and is connected at its rearbifurcated end with the free end of the crank 59 by a link 64. Theforward end of the lever 62 is provided with two integralarms 65 and66,which carry friction-rollers 67. The friction-roller on' the arm 66engages a cam 68, and the friction-roller on the arm 65 engages a cam69, both of said cams being keyed to the main driven shaft 3, and, infact, the said cams may Both of the cams 68 and 69 are provided withconcentric portions 70, on which for substantially onehalf of therevolution of the shaft 3 the rollers 67 will bear, so that during suchhalf of rotation the arm 62 will be kept in a stationary position. Itwill be observed that the cam 69 bears an inverse relation to the cam68, so as to allow the forward end of the lever 62 to be elevated by thecam 68 engaging the roller on the arm 66, the engagement between theroller on the arm 65 with the cam 69 providing for a positive movementof the lever 62.

The driven shaft 3 is divided between the side frames 1 1 and carriesthe two crankarms 71, which are connected together by a pin working in ablock 73. The said block 73 is mounted within a slot 74, formed in thecurved forward end of the lever 75, which lever is mounted on the shaft76, supported in suitable bearings 77 in the side frames.

Mounted on the shaft 76 on each side of the lever is a lever 78, theforward ends of which are normally in engagement with projections on thesides of the lever 75. Extending up from these projections on the lever75 are two rods 79, which pass through the levers 78 and which carryheavy spiral springs 80. One of the levers 78 is connected at its rearend beyond the shaft 76 to a lever 81 by means of links 82. The lever 81is carried on a shaft 83, mounted in brackets 84, bolted to the sideframes. The inner end of the lever 81 is bifurcated, as shown, andbetween said bifurcated portions is connected the upper portion 85 ofthe plunger 45, said plunger being guided by a suitable guide 86,extending rearwardly from the brackets 84. The specific construction ofthis plunger is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6, the essentialfeature of novelty being the provision immediately above the plungerportion of two connecting steam-passages 87, bored therein,

which passages are connected by steam-pipes 88, made ofsufficiently-flexible metal as to allow for the movement of the plunger.In this way the intermediate plunger will be kept heated, and thebriquet when the latter has a binding material mixed therewith will beprevented from sticking to the plunger. The rear end of the other lever78 is connected by links 89 to the end of a knuckle-lever 90, pivoted ona heavy shaft 91, extending between the side frames. The connecting pin92, which connects the links 89 with the said lever 78, is preferablymounted in eccentrics 93, carried by said links. By turning theseeccentrics 93 in any suitable way a very delicate adjustment between thelevers and 78 may be obtained. A similar adjustment may be appliedbetween the links 82 and the other levers 78, as will be understood.

The third plunger 46, which gives to the briquet its final compression,is carried on the upper end of an arm 94, mounted on a shaft extendingacross the side frames of the machine. Connecting the upper end of saidarm 94 with the knuckle of the knuckle-lever 90 is a steelconnecting-block 95, having semicircular ends bearing against concentricshoulders formed in the knuckle-lever and in the upper end of the arm94. This connecting-block 95 is pinned between ears formed on said leverand arm, so that the-said connecting-block will serve to retract thethird plunger after the same has operated. In the compressingoperatiomhowever, none of the strain is taken on these pins and all thestrain will be taken on the shoulders referred to, as shown clearly inFig. 6. The third plunger 46 is also provided with steam-pipes 96, bywhich it will be kept heated when the machine is used in the bricking ofconcentrated iron ore or coal, to which material has been added abinder, as explained.

The material is fed to the machine in any suitable way, that illustratedbeing, however, considered preferable. Extending back of the machine andat right angles thereto, immediately above the line of the plunger 44,is a rectangular trough 97, made, preferably, of two channel-irons witha single bottom plate, as shown. This trough is provided with openings98 therein, (see Fig. 10,) directly above the said plunger 44, andbeneath said opening is a U-shaped pocket or receptacle 99, carried bythe main frame of the machine and with its forward end extendingadjacent to the periphery of the mold-carrier. One side of the pocket 99is preferably provided with a more or less sharpened edge 100, againstwhich the material is adapted to be directed and by which a portion ofthe material will be cut off and caused to be deposited in thereceptacle 99. The material is moved along the trough 97 by any suitableconveying device, a flight conveyer being illustrated and consisting ofthree endless wire ropes 101, carrying the flights or scrapers 102, Theflights 102 in clamped to said ropes.

IIO

their movement through the trough 97 clear the cutting-tool 100; but inorder to prevent the accumulation of material below the line of travelof said flights I employ a number of spring-pressed flights 103, alsocarried by the endless ropes 101. In constructing these spring-pressedflights I secure to the clamp 104, which is carried by the endless ropes101, a downweirdly-extending arm or bracket 105, to which the flightproper, 106, is pivoted, said flight working against the bottom of thetrough 97 and moving all the material therein. Extending out from thelower end of the bracket 105 is a rod 107, which passes through theflight 106 and which carries a coiled spring 108 thereon. This springconnection between the flights 106 and the bracket. 105 allows theseflights to move'backward when they strike the cutting-tool 100. If forany reason it is desired to temporarily suspend the operation of anymachinesuch, for eX- ample, as by difliculties being encountered in theoven for that particular machinea sl de 109, working in grooves 110, maybe used to cut off the pocket 99 from the supply of the material, sothat' although the machine will continue to operate it will not receiveany material.

In the bricking of iron concentrates on a large scale and in order thatthe operations may be carried on as economically as possible I prefer tomake use of a series of my improved bricking machines arranged side byside in front of a battery of ovens, in which the briquets aresubsequently baked, and to extend the trough 97 back of all saidmachines, so that they will all be supplied by the operation of theflights or scrapers 102 and 106.

Assuming the bricking-machine to be used in the formation of briquets ofconcentrated iron ore which is in finely-pulverized form and to which asuitable binding material has been added, the operation of a singlemachine will be as follows: The cam 28, intermediate plunger 45, andfinal plunger 46 will be kept hot by the steam connections explained.Power is applied to the pulley 5, which rotates the driven shaft 3.Material is fed to the trough 97 and is carried along said trough by theflights or scrapers 102 and 106, a part of said material being cut offfrom the main mass by the action of the cutting-tool 100 and beingdeposited in the pocket or recess 99 of each machine. It may be observedthat when the adhesion between the particles of the ma terial is slightthe cutting edge 100 may be omitted, and the pockets or recesses 99 willbe filled by the material dropping therein.

Let us suppose that the drunken Worm 19 has just completed its feedmovement of the mold-carrier and that one of the molds 37 is in linewith the plunger 44, another mold is sumed the cam 68 will be justcommencing ward the mold-carrier.

to elevate the lever 62. This elevation of the lever 62 will take placein approximaielyonefourth of a revolution of the shaft 3. The rear endof said lever will be depressed and through the crank 59 will rock theshaft 52, swinging the arm 54 toward the machine and through the springconnection moving also the arm 51 so as to force the plunger 44 to Theplunger in pass ing through the receptacle or chamber 09 will force thematerial out of said chamber into the proper mold and will also give tothe material the necessary primary compression. In the machine now underconsideration and in the formation of briquets of concentrated iron orethis primary compression is about twelve hundred pounds and the movementof said plunger is approximately seven inches. The preliminarycompression will force the material into the mold so as to entirely fillthe same. The shaft 3 continuing to rotate moves the lever 62 in theopposite direction to withdraw the plunger, this operation taking placein approximately one-fourth of the rotation, and during the remaininghalf of such rotation the recess or receptacle 99 is again filled withmaterial. These operations are repeated until the material in the firstmold we have considered has been brought in line with the second plunger45. That plunger is operated through the crank-arms 71. In the positionshown in Fig. 3 the crankarms are just commencing to operate saidplunger. The said crank-arms in moving downward in the direction of thearrow by the rotation of the main driven shaft 3 swing the lever on theshaft 76, and through the spring connections oscillate both levers 78.Through the links 82 the forward end of the lever 81 will be elevated,depressing the rear end thereof and forcing the plunger 45 with greatpressure against the material in the mold. In the machine underconsideration the pressure of the plunger 45 is approximately twelvethousand pounds and its movement is one inch. As the machine continuesto operate the first mold will be moved toward the third plunger 46, inwhich movementthemoldbottom will ride up on the cam 28 toward the pointZ until the outer surface of the partially-finished briquet has beenbroughtin line with the periphery of the mold-carrier, so that when thefirst mold is in line with the third plunger the partiallyfinishedbriquet will be almost in contact with the said plunger. When,therefore,in the operation of the driven shaft 3 the lever 75 is moved, the links89, through the other lever 78, will elevate the forward end of theknuckle-lever and an enormous pressure will be exerted against the thirdplunger to give to the briquet its necessary solidity and firmness. Inthe machine under consideration the pressure applied to the briquet bythe plunger 46 is sixty thousand pounds and the movement of said plungeris one-eighth of an inch. As the mold-carrieradvances the bottoms of themolds containing IIO centric portion of the cam 28 until the said moldhas reached its lowermost position, at which point its bottom will haveentirely ejected the finished briquet, which will be caught on asuitable traveling apron or chute and be carried to the drying or bakingovens, if necessary. If desired, a spring-finger 111 may be used toeject the finished briquet. (See Figs. 5 and 6.)

The particular advantage of my improved brickingunachine, aside fromthose advantages which arise from the compactness and efficiency of itsmechanical constructions, is the fact that by its use the material willbe subjected to successive and gradually-increasing pressures, while atthe same time the finished briquct will be ejected from the machine ateach compressive action. This advantage, it will be noted, is due to thefact that the same briquet is successively subjected to the action ofdifferent compressive effects and that different briquets aresimultaneously subjected to the action of different compressive effects.I consider it of importance that the material in the process offormation should be subjected to successive and increasing compressingoperations rather than to a single compressing operation, because inthat wayI am enabled to get a very even quality of output, briquetsproduced by these machines differing but slightly in their weight. ThisI attribute largely to the fact that the compressive effect of each ofthe changed, as also does the movement of each of said plungers.Therefore by providing means by which always approximately the samequantity of material will be forced by the primary plungerinto its moldand be subjected to the preliminary compression and bykeeping thematerial in the molds always approximately flush with the surface of themold-carrier the effect of the intermediate and final plungers will besubstantially always the same on different briquets.

The operation of my improved brickingmachine and its principles beingunderstood in the production of briquets of iron ore, coal, and similarsubstances, the ways in which it will be modified for other uses will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a machine for forming briquets of pulverized material, thecombination of a mold, a plunger cooperating therewith, a divided leverfor moving said plunger, and a safetyspring uniting the sections of saidlever, substantially as set fort-l1.

2. In a machine for forming briquets of pulverized material, thecombination of a mold,

a plungercooperating therewith, a rock-shaft, an arm carried by saidrock-shaft and connected with said plunger, a main drivingshaft, alever, a cam on the main shaft for operating said lever, a second armcarried by the rock-shaft, and connections between said arm and saidlever, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for forming briquets of pulverized material, thecombination of a mold, a pivoted arm adjacentto said mold, a finalplunger carried by said arm, and a knucklelever for operating saidplnnger,substantially as set forth.

4. In a bricking-machine, the combination with the mold -carrier and itscooperating plungers, of a driven shaft, connections between said shaftand said plungers for oscillating the latter, connections between saidshaft and the mold-carrier for rotating said carrier with a step-hy-stepmovement, a driving-pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, and a safetyconnection between said pulley and shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In a bricking-machine, the combination with the mold-carrier and itscooperating plungers, of a driven shaft, connections between said shaftand said plungers for oscillating the latter, connections between saidshaft and the mold-carrier for rotating said carrier with a step-by-stepmovement, a driving-pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, a linkconnected to said pulley, and a shear bolt for securing said link tosaid shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. In a brickingmachine, the combination with the mold-carrier and itscooperating plungers, of a driven shaft, connections between said shaftand said plungers for oscillating the latter, connections between saidshaft and the mold-carrier for rotating said carrier with a step-by-stepmovement, a driving-pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, a linkconnected to said pulley, a shear-bolt for securing said link to saidshaft, and an adjustable wedge-block behind said shear-bolt,substantially as set forth.

7. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a rotatable mold-carrier,plungers cooperating therewith, a main drivingshaft,a wormgear carriedby the shaft of the mold-carrier, a drunken worm for driving said gear,an inclined shaft carrying said worm, and an ad justable bearing-platecarrying said shaft and adjustablelaterally,substantially as set forth.

8. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a rotatable mold-carrier,plungers cooper ating therewith, a main driving shaft, a worm-gearcarried by the shaft of the moldcarrier, a drunken worm for driving saidgear, an inclined shaft carrying said worm, a bearing-plate carryingsaid shaft and adjustable laterally, adjusting-screws for said plate,and clamping-screws there for, substantially as set forth.

9. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a mold, a plungercooperating with said mold, means for reciprocating said plunger, areceptacle in line between said plunger and mold for receiving materialwhich is forced by said plunger into said mold, and a trough above saidrecess along which the material is carried and deposited in said recess,substantially as set forth.

10. In a brickiug'machine, the combination of a mold, a plungercooperating with said mold, means for reciprocating said plunger, areceptacle in line between said plunger and mold for receiving materialwhich is forced by said plunger into said mold, a trough above saidrecess along which the material is carried and deposited in said recess,and a conveyer for moving the material in said trough, substantially asset forth.

II. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a mold, a plungercooperating with said mold, means for reciprocating said plunger, areceptacle in line between said plunger and mold for receiving materialwhich is forced by said plunger into sa d mold, and a cuttingtool at theedge of said recess, substantially as set forth.

12. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a mold, a plungercooperating with said mold, means for reciprocating said plunger, areceptacle in line between said plunger and mold for receiving materialwhich is forced by said plunger into said mold, a cuttingtool at theedge of said recess, a trough above said recess along which material iscarried, a conveyer for moving the material along said trough, andspring-pressed flights or scrapers carried by said conveyor and yieldingwhen engaging with said cutting tool, substantially as set forth.

13. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a rotatable mold -carrier,a plurality of plungers cooperating with said carrier, means forrotatingsaid carrier with an intermittent movement, means forreciprocating said plungers, a pocket between one of said plungers andthe mold-carrier, and a trough above said pocket or recess along whichthe material is moved and from which it drops into said recess,substantially as set forth.

14. In a bricking-machine, the combination of a rotatable mold-carrier,a plurality of plungers cooperating with said carrier, means forrotating said carrier with an intermittent movement, means forreciprocating said plungers, a pocket between one of said plungers andthe mold-carrier, a trough above said pocket or recess along which thematerial is moved and from which it drops into said recess, and aconveyer in said trough for moving the material therein, substantiallyas set forth.

15. In a bricking plant, the combination of a series ofbricking-machines, each having a mold and a plunger cooperating withsaid mold, a pocket between each of said plungers and its cooperatingmold, and a trough extending past the pockets or recesses of all thebricking-maohines and along which the material is moved, substantiallyas set forth.

16. In a bricking plant, the combination of a series ofbricking-machines, each having a mold and a plunger cooperating withsaid mold, a pocket between each of said plungers and its cooperatingmold, a trough extending past the pockets or recesses of all thebricking-machines and along which the ma terial is moved, and a conveyerworking in said trough for moving the material therein, substantially asset forth.

17. In a bricki'ng plant, the combination of a series ofbricking-machines arranged side by side, each comprising a rotatablemoldcarrier, a series of plunger-s cooperating therewith, means forreciprocating said'plungers, and means for giving to the mold-carrier astep-by-step rotary movement, a pocket arranged between one of saidplungers and the moldcarrier of each machine, and a trough extendingabove the pockets or recesses of all the machines, along which thematerial is moved and from which the material dropsinto said pockets orrecesses, substantially as set forth.

18. In a bricking plant, the combination of a series ofbricking-machines arranged side by side, each comprising a rotatablemoldcarrier, a series of plu ngers cooperating therewith, means forreciprocating said plungers, and means for giving to the mold-carrier astep-by-step rotary movement, a pocket arranged between one of saidplungcrs and the moldcarrier of each machine, a trough ex tending abovethe pockets of all the machines, along which the material is moved andfrom which the material drops in to said pockets or recesses, and aconveyor in said trough for moving the material therein, substantiallyas set forth.

19. In a brickingmachine,the combination of a mold, a plungercooperating therewith, a receptacle between said plunger and the mold,and a movable cover for said reoeptacle, substantially as set forth.

20. In abricking-machine, the combination of a mold, a plungercooperating therewith, a receptacle between said plunger and the mold, amovable cover for said receptacle, and a trough mounted above saidreceptacle and along which the material is moved, substantially as setforth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of April, 1898.

THOMAS A. EDISON.

Witnesses:

J. F. RANDOLPH, FREDERICK C. DEVONALD.

